Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Midlife crisis'

This thesis provides the first rigorous history of the concept of midlife crisis. It highlights the close connections between understandings of the life course and social change. It reverses accounts of popularization by showing how an idea moved from the public sphere into academia. Above all, it uncovers the feminist origins of the concept and places this in a historically little-studied tradition of writing about middle age that rejected the gendered "double standard of aging." Constructions of middle age and life-planning were not always oppressive, but often used for feminist purposes. The idea of midlife crisis became popular in the United States with journalist Gail Sheehy's Passages (1976), a critique of Erik Erikson's male-centered model of ego development and psychoanalytic constructions of gender and identity more generally. Drawing on mid-century notions of middle life as the time of a woman's entry into the public sphere, Sheehy's midlife crisis defined the onset of middle age, for men and women, as the end of traditional gender roles. As dual-earner families replaced the male breadwinner model, Passages circulated widely, read by women and men of different generations, including social scientists. Three psychoanalytic experts-Daniel Levinson, George Vaillant, and Roger Gould-rebutted Sheehy by putting forward a male-only concept of midlife as the end of a man's family obligations; they banned women from reimagining their lives. Though this became the dominant meaning of midlife crisis, it was not universally accepted. Feminist scholars, most famously the psychologist and ethicist Carol Gilligan, drew on women's experiences to challenge the midlife crisis, turning it into a sign of emotional instability, immaturity, and egotism. Resonating with widespread understandings of mental health and social responsibility, and confirmed by large-scale surveys in the late 1990s, this relegated the midlife crisis to a chauvinist cliché. It has remained a contested concept for negotiating the balances between work and life, production and reproduction into the present day.

Orientador: Guita Grin Debert
Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Filosofia e Ciencias Humanas
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Resumo: Tendo em vista processos contemporâneos de negação da velhice, multiplicação das marcas identitárias e exaltação da juventude como valor, proponho uma análise da forma como a crise da meia-idade aparece em publicações de auto-ajuda nacionais. Dada a centralidade das imagens do lobo e da loba para caracterização de mais esse período da vida adulta, no Brasil, nestas concentro meus esforços analíticos. O esforço é pela apreensão das alterações que as inflexões de gênero trazem para a configuração da meia-idade nessa mídia. De um lado, a construção da imagem de um homem frágil e infantilizado e, de outro, a de uma mulher poderosa, que continua a seduzir, a despeito das transformações físicas que marcam o período. A partir do referencial teórico da sociologia das emoções e do cuidado, e das discussões sobre gerações, proponho uma reflexão sobre as expectativas sócio-emocionais para essa fase da vida.
Abstract: Considering the contemporary processes of denying aging, the variety of identity branding and the elevation of youth as value, I propose an analysis as per how the midlife crises is portrayed in brazilian self-help books. Taking into account the concentration on the images of the male and female wolves in order to characterize this period of adult life in Brazil, this is where I focus the analysis. The effort is to capture the changes that the gender deviations bring to define the midlife in this kind of media. Men are seen as fragile and childish. On the other corner, women are seen as powerful and seductive, despite the physical transformations in this period of life. From the theoretical framework of sociology of emotions and care, and the generation discussions, I propose a debate on the socio-emotional expectations for this stage of life.
Mestrado
Teoria Antropológica
Mestre em Antropologia

Many mid-life daughters are primary caregivers to their elderly mothers. However, in most research studies daughters have been grouped with other caregivers; thus, the daughters' experiences have not been specifically identified. Without this information nurses will be unable to adequately assist mid-life caregiving daughters to attain their optimal levels of health. The phenomenological research method was the methodology used to elicit the experiences of the mid-life daughters. The phenomenological method was congruent with the feminist perspective -- the conceptual framework -- which guided the study. The feminist perspective elucidated the importance of eliciting not only the visible caregiving experiences of the mid-life daughters, but also their internal experiences -- their feelings -- and the meanings they gave to their experiences. The researcher recruited subjects for the study through a daughters-of-aging-parents program which was held at the Women's Resource Centre in Vancouver, British Columbia. In order to collect the data, the researcher interviewed the subjects. Congruent with the phenomenological method, data collection and data analysis ran concurrently throughout the study. The conclusions that the researcher drew from the findings of this study include the following: at the start of a caregiving daughter-mother relationship, a daughter is very responsive to the needs of her mother; when a daughter realizes that she is self-sacrificing herself in order to care for her mother, she becomes less responsive to her mother's needs and focuses, instead, on caring for herself; a daughter who is able to identify her own needs and then act on them Is able to care for her mother and herself in a manner that meets both their needs; a daughter experiences a number of emotions while providing care for her mother; a daughter uses the logical process of working towards healthy differentiation in order to counterbalance her emotional reactivity, and a daughter who successfully counterbalances her emotions with logic discovers her basic self and becomes an entity distinct from, yet interdependent with, her mother.
Applied Science, Faculty of
Nursing, School of
Graduate

U uslovima krize pokazalo se da je za mala i srednja preduzeća najbitnije širenje trţišta i da Akt EU o malim i srednjem preduzećima ne utiĉe na uspešnost njihovog poslovanja.
In the crisis conditiones market spreading is crutial for small and midle firms business success.

碩士
國立中正大學
成人及繼續教育研究所
87
1. The causes of midlife crisis have these five items : making no progress on career, the pressure to educate children, biologically aging, imbalance of marriage relationship, and confusion of ego identity. 2. The sequence producing midlife crisis are making no progress on career, the pressure to educate children, biologically aging, imbalance of marriage relationship, and confusion of ego identity. 3. Sex, social status, marriage situation, structure of family and religion are relative to the midlife crisis. 4. Female presents more crucial then male on these four aspects: making no progress on career, the pressure to educate children, biologically aging, and imbalance of marriage relationship. 5. The degree of crisis are arising nonlinearly by the descending of social status. 6. The pressure of midlife crisis are higher for persons in divorce or separation then ones in other marriage situation. 7. The pressure of midlife crisis are higher for persons in single family then ones in other family structure. 8. The pressure of midlife crisis are higher for persons with no religion then ones with religion. 9. People in the age between 36 to 40 are the stage to realize ego pressure. 10.To coping midlife crisis, most of the people in midlife use the problem- orientation.

Strong opposing views exist with the popularly held notion that a midlife crisis is a normative phenomenon whilst a number of international researchers assert that the evidence shows the opposite to be true. It is nevertheless acknowledged that the psychology of midlife was one of the least researched areas internationally until the 1990s when certain aspects of midlife were investigated in the United States. Findings from these studies did not include the impact of a multiplicity of factors in combination at midlife. A new approach to the study of the life course using a combination model taking account of the influence of societal structures as well as the interplay between parts has been suggested. Such an approach to midlife transition and crisis research is not known to have taken place in South Africa or internationally. A conceptual model of midlife transition and crisis was constructed from known research and relevant literature and tested using a sample of 220 individuals aged between 30 and 65. The validity of the model was established and a methodologically sound measuring instrument was validated as a more accurate measurement of midlife crisis than a self-described experience. Two factors provisionally named stagnation and death and aging anxiety were found to exist. A true midlife crisis was experienced by a minority of individuals (IS percent) but an additional 31 percent had a troublesome but manageable experience. A neurotic disposition. the absence of good parental relationships, and the use of inappropriate coping skills such as wishful thinking were in combination related to high scores on the midlife crisis scales. A qualitative study revealed that over 90 percent of respondents were able to define a midlife crisis accurately although they tended to overstate the occurrence thereof. This replicates the research findings in the United States. Stagnation was experienced more acutely by individuals aged between 40 and 50 years whilst death and aging anxiety was the primary experience for those over 50 years. The validated conceptual model and measuring instruments can be used by therapists and coaches to facilitate the counselling or coaching process with clients experiencing midlife crisis.
Psychology
D. Comm. (Consulting Psychology)

碩士
國立臺灣師範大學
人類發展與家庭學系
96
The purpose of this study is to explore the relation between middle-agers’ life events and midlife crisis. This study had been conducted by questionnaire, and the targets were middle-agers ranging from 40 to 64 years old; by purposive sampling, 523 effective samples had been obtained. The main results from this study have been discovered as follows: 1. The frequency of middle-agers’ life events, and to what influencing extent these life events had In the past one year, there were not many events happened in middle-agers’ life; however, among the life events of high ratio of frequency, most were “negative life events”, and “minor life events” secondly. As for “negative life events”, the events occupying the highest ratio were the events such as relatives’ being ill, hospitalized or dead, or personal financial crisis; besides, in “minor life events”, the events of high frequency were conflicts with their spouse and offspring. As to the influencing extent these life events had, some significant life events would have great impact on their life, such as getting married, giving birth to a baby, relative being sick, relatives’ death, divorce, extramarital relation, unemployment, financial crisis, etc.; among these events, “the influencing extent made by negative life events” ranked the highest in the average influencing extent. 2. For middle-agers of different backgrounds as variation, the difference on the frequency of life events and the influencing extent made by life events For middle-agers, gender has made significant difference on “the total number of life events” and “the number of minor life events”; furthermore, “the total number of life events” and “ the number of minor life events” of female middle-agers have been many more than those of male middle-agers. Age has made significant difference on middle-agers’ “the number of positive life events ”, “the number of negative life events”, “ the number of neutral life events” and “ the total influencing extent made by life events”. Among them, “the number of positive life events ”and “ the number of neutral life events” of middle-agers ranging from 55 to 64 years old have been higher than those of middle-agers of other ages. 3. A middle-ager’s midlife crisis The middle-agers would not have quite strong feeling about midlife crisis; however, the most phenomenon that would make them feel uneasy were all related to worries about aging, aged life and time passing. 4. For middle-agers of different backgrounds in variation, the difference on midlife crisis Education and financial status have made significant difference on middle-ager’s midlife crisis. Furthermore, the middle-agers who had received education of university above with their personal income more than 70,001 have less feeling about midlife crisis than other interviewed middle-agers. 5. The relation between the middle-agers’ life events and the midlife crisis There were significant relation between “the number of minor life events”, “ the influencing extent made by neutral life events” and “midlife crisis”. Namely, if more minor life events happened in middle-agers’ life in the past one year, the more sense of midlife crisis they would feel; also, if middle-agers have greater sense about the influencing extent brought by neutral life events to their life, they would have stronger feeling about midlife crisis. Finally, according to the result of this study, some concrete suggestions have been provided respectively for middle-agers, family life education, and the direction for study in the future.

The purpose of this study was to gain a deeper understanding of how women experience midlife. Social constructionism, which fits within the postmodern tradition, was the epistemological framework informing this study. Participants were asked to provide their life stories in text form. Texts were interpreted using the hermeneutic method of analysis. The researcher attempted to understand the midlife experience from the perspective of each participant whose meaning, attitudes and ideas have developed within a social context, keeping in mind that the researcher's own social context, ideas and values affected the interpretation of the texts. The research results add a new perspective to the `grand narrative' of midlife as a `crisis'. The new `voice' speaks of the possibility of positive development - of overcoming adversity; taking control; re-assessing life; breaking old patterns; discovering peace; putting down roots; confronting reality; gaining independence and finding new meaning.
Psychology
MA (Clinical Psychology)

M.A.
The mid-life transition is the focus of this research. It is an in-depth qualitative study based on a small sample of women between forty to sixty years of age. The research also examines the significance of the story medium as a means of generating psychological data concerning the experience of the mid-life transition. This data was analysed using grounded theory methodology. The results suggest that there is a merging of the cognitive and affective functions during the mid-life transition causing disequilibrium and the shifting of elements within the psychic structure. The data further suggest that mid-life is a meaning generating process at two levels. There is a clarification of goals, values and life direction. At a deeper level there is a search for an inner purposiveness or soul centredness. Themes centred around questions of identity and relationship. Identity issues surfaced with regard to appearance, roles, future and the death/rebirth motif Relationship issues concerned relationship to marriage, motherhood, work and money. Ultimately, at mid-life, there is an inner search for soul purposiveness.

碩士
國立嘉義大學
家庭教育研究所
89
A Study of Married Female Elementary School Teachers on Midlife Family Crisis Hui-tsu Huang Abstract The purpose of the research is to explore the midlife family crisis of elementary school teachers in Chia Yi. After studying the background, current situation, intentions, procedures and result of midlife crisis as well as the medium existing condition on married middle elementary school teachers, the conclusions and suggestions can provide sufficient information for elementary school teachers to have better coping methods. The approach of the research is literature analysis and a questionnaire survey. The tools, “ Questionnaire on Midlife Family Crisis for Middle Person” and “ Type A/B Personality Scale”, have been applied to give tests and have been completed. The results of the research have been analysised through statistical methods “ t- test”, “ one way ANOVA” and “ aggression”. The last part of the research is to interview seven elementary teachers and try to investigate how they cope themselves when they have midlife family crisis. The conclusions are as follows: 1.There are five aspects of midlife family crisis on married elementary school teachers, that is marriage aspect, family relationship aspect, family health aspect, parental stress and family economics. The most serious aspect is parental stress. 2.The married female elementary school teachers have medium midlife family crisis. 3.The qualitative data have presented elementary school teachers’ coping method. Almost they usually have traditional women value beliefs and that will be their main coping method when they have midlife family crisis.

碩士
國防管理學院
資源管理研究所
85
This study will discuss whether the midlife crisis for voluntary military officers exist or not? And what are those main sources of midlife crisis? What are those influenced factor and what kinds of influence will happen? (This study discuss the influence of midlife crisis and the intention of turnover). Those are the main purposes of this study. And also research whether influence the result because of the different design of midlife crisis questionnaire. This study find the conclusion as follow: 　　1.The design of midlife crisis questionnaire is apparently influence the result. This study shows it is better to divide the source of midlife crisis from the intention of midlife crisis。 　　2.Midlife crisis did existed in many of the voluntary military officers in R.O.C.. More than half of them thought that midlife crisis are related closely with that they are voluntary military officers. 　　3.The midlife crisis full of variety, the number one are hard working will take away the time that gather together with family. 　　4.The midlife crisis caused by the main four factors, those factors come from:"the factor of health ","the factor of family"."the factor of conflict from their own mind "and "the factor of unsatisfy for the future". 　　5.The voluntary military officer who working in the combat force will much worry about the crisis than those don''t. And the voluntary military officer who think he is bad performance also will much worry about the midlife crisis. 　　6.Most of the officers willing to change the division but not to retire from the military service. 　　7.There are obvious relation between the midlife crisis and the intention of turnover for voluntary military officers in R.O.C.. The influence of midlife crisis and the intention of turnover for voluntary military officers in R.O.C.. There will have different results between different locus of control, age, basic education and armed service.

碩士
國立新竹師範學院
國民教育研究所
87
This study attempts to investigate the midlife crisis of male educators in Taoyuan County with a view to understand its related factors and issues.Suggestions for the Authorities of the Ministry of Education,schools and male educators are also presented.The points of suggestions are to help male educators to lower their sense of midlife crisis, facilitate self-fulfi-llment and lead a happy life. This study was used questionnaire survey and interview meth-od.The subjects,conducted in Taoyuan County.,aged from 41 to 55 years old, were principals, deans and teachers from elementary and junior high schools.They completed the questionnaire.A tot-al of 825 questionnaires had been collected and the data was la-ter analyzed by SPSS for Windows. Interviews with 12 subjects also account for the results.Main aspects examined in this stud-y are current conditions of the midlife crisis pressure of male educators in Taoyuan County,the coping with midlife crisis and the dealing with individual lives.Their relationships with one another are investigated, too. Conclusions: 1.It is a universal phenomenon that midlife educators in Taoyu- an County have the midlife crisis.However,the ratio is ratherlow as a whole. 2.There are four factors contributing to the sense of.They are: "body health","career development","family relationship" and "economical condition." 3.The midlife crisis worthy of greatest worries of male educato- rs in Taoyuan County: as a whole, it is "body health"aspect; judging from each item,it is the child-raising problem from the "family relationship"aspect. 4.Male educators in Taoyuan County of different background var- iables differ not only in aspects of the midlife crisis but in kinds of the midlife crisis. 5.Male educators in Taoyuan County of different background have developed strategies of coping with midlife crisis. Times of using these strategies and kinds of adopting them are differ- ent.Strategies used most often are kindsof mental adjustment. 6.There is no distinctive correlation between ways of coping with life and sense of midlife crisis. However, ways of copi- ng with life and strategies of coping with midlife crisis co- rrelate closely. 7.Parts of background variables and individual!|s coping with daily events make distinctive predictions about the aspects of midlife crisis of male educators in Taoyuan County. 8.Male educators in Taoyuan County prefer to obtain information about career development in relaxed situations and multiple sources. This gives reference to the promotion of life-long education and living counseling. Suggestions: I.Suggestions for the Authorities of the Ministry of Education 1.Attach great importance to the phenomenon that the midlife crisis existsin educators. 2.Establish the upgrade by teach skill system for senior teachers. 3.Assemble the specialists in counties to set up counseling and service organizations of work force. 4.Spread the knowledge and information of living counseling by multiple sources. II.Suggestions for schools 1.Give senior educators support and respect. 2.Help senior educators to set up growth groups. Schedule seminars to meet their needs. III.Suggestions for midlife male educators 1.Develop one!s abilities to cope with and resist pressure. 2.Make plans for career development. 3.Develop tastes for things. 4.Increase the utilization of strategies coping with midlife crisis of the "solution by action"type. VI.Suggestions for further studies 1.Cities and counties should make a survey focusing on the traits of areas.The results can give reference to the planning of educational reform,school base management, and teacher study. 2.Continuing studies can choose female educators to be subjects. Comparisons can be made about differences in the midlife crisis of male and female educators. 3.Pursuing further investigation of single midlife male educators and married ones with no children. 4.Similar studies in the future can be made by means of case study.In this way, it is for sure to obtain deeper information. 5.Investigate the cause of strategies of "coying by thinking" type more than strategies of "solution by action"type, when educators coping his crisis. 6.Investigate the correlation between preferred ways of obtaining the information of career development and effects of coping with midlife 7.Develop a set of check lists concerning sense of midlife crisis. Peoplein their middle life can test the way their sense of midlife crisis is. They can deal with and solve it early.

Text in English
The purpose of this study was to gain a richer understanding of midlife experiences. Midlife is stereotypically viewed as a crisis and is one of the least studied, most illdefined stages in life, yet it’s one of the most significant stages. The epistemological framework for this study is post modernism, which allows for this study to document the transitions from crisis at midlife, as seen through the lens of Positive Psychology. This study was exploratory in nature and applied a qualitative ethnographic methodology. Six participants were interviewed from an ethnographic perspective, in an endeavour to allow each participant accordant ontological breadth and flexibility within their respective social and ideological contexts. The researcher’s own social context also adding nuance to the interpretation of data. This interpretation allows for the inclusion of hope, wisdom, creativity, future mindedness, courage, spirituality, responsibility and perseverance. Thematic analysis of these participants’ narratives supports the psychological research which suggests that challenges are associated with midlife. Thematic analysis revealed challenges associated with midlife such as feelings of disillusionment, regret and dissatisfaction; feelings of loneliness, rejection and isolation as well as confusion about the way forward; seeking a meaningful existence and connection as well as achievement. Some participants, however, are in denial of the existence or their experience of midlife and associated challenges, whereas others describe midlife as a transition phase — a crossroads, a wake-up call and time for reassessment Although midlife can be a difficult transitional period, Positive Psychology can help individuals identify and build the necessary resources and coping strategies to prevent a transition turning into a crisis. It was shown that most participants in this research displayed a mindset and attitude open to a Positive Psychology paradigm to accumulate the necessary resources and coping strategies to prevent a midlife transition from becoming a midlife crisis.
Psychology
M.A. (Psychology)

Afrikaans text
Hierdie studie het ten doel gehad om die Opvoedkundig-Sielkundige Relasieteorie te gebruik in die identifisering van 'n middeljarekrisis by middeljariges. Met die oog hierop is daar hoofsaaklik op die volgende gekonsentreer: Die middeljare as fenomeen, met spesifieke verwysing na die belewing van krisis­ elemente tydens hierdie lewensfase, wat op 'n middeljarekrisis sou kon dui Die gebruik van die Opvoedkundig-Sielkundige Relasieteorie as gefundeerde teoretiese vertrekpunt in die identifisering van 'n middeljarekrisis Die daarstel van •n diagnostiese vraelys binne die raamwerk van die Opvoedkundig- Sielkundige Relasieteorie wat in die empiriese studie gebruik is om 'n middeljarekrisis te identifiseer Daar is bevind dat, aJhoewel nie aile middeljariges 'n krisistydperk ervaar nie, daar tien verskillende krisis-elemente is wat op 'n middeljarekrisis sou kon dui. 'n Diagnostiese vraelys is in terme van die Opvoedkundig-Sielkundige Relasieteorie veroperasionaliseer, en gebruik in die identifisering van 'n middeljarekrisis.
The aim of this study was to use the Edu-Psychological Relation Theory in the identification of a midlife crisis in middle aged persons. The researcher concentrated on the following main aspects: The middle years as phenomenon, with specific reference to the experience of crisis - elements during this life phase, which could lead to a crisis The use of the Edu-Psychological Relation Theory as well-grounded theoretical point of departure in the identification of a midlife crisis The compilation of a diagnostic questionnaireusing the Edu-Psychological Relation Theory as framework, which was used in the empirical study to identify a midlife crisis It was found that, although not all middle aged persons experience a crisis during this time, there are ten different crisis elements which could indicate a midlife crisis. A diagnostic questionnaire was operationalised in terms of the Edu-Psychological Relation Theory, and used in the identification of a midlife crisis.
Psychology of Education
M. Ed. (Voorligting)

碩士
國立高雄師範大學
成人教育研究所
101
Abstract The main purpose of this study is to explore the current situation and the relation between midlife crisis of labor and coping strategies in Kaohsiung City. This thesis is targeting on the labor of the age from 40 to 64 in Kaohsiung. .The research adopts the method of investigative form,and the number for the total samples are about 600,and 600 among total are returned to us；however,only 522 are the available ones. The methodologies includes individual basic documents,midlife crisis measures,and coping strategies measures. We input our questionnaire with descriptive statistics,one way ANNOVA,Pearson correlation,and two-way ANNOVA.According to the output,we get the conclusions as follows. 1.The degree of midlife crisis is below the average, and the factor of “social support”possesses the highest scores. 2. The degree of using frequency of coping strategies is beyond the average, and the factor of“flexible adjustment”possesses the highest scores. 3.The labor with“below the average”physical condition in Kaohsiung have higher degree in the factor of ”career development”,”mental adjustment”, and”social support”than “very healthy”ones. 4.The labor with“below the average”economic situation in Kaohsiung have higher degree in overall midlife crisis and each factor than“beyond the comfortable level of living”ones. 5.The labor with”above 10 years”working seniority in Kaohsiung have highest using frequency in the factor of ”seeking assistance”, and the factor of “flexible adjustment”,” rational settlement”, and“negative avoidance” are the lowest. 6. There are mostly negative correlation between midlife crisis and coping strategies of the labor in Kaohsiung, except the factor of ” negative avoidance”. 7. Different age with midlife crisis of the labor in Kaohsiung absolutely relate to the correlation of coping strategies. Based on the results of this study, such as the labor of Kaohsiung City, the government, social organizations, and the future researchers can take it for reference.

This study explores the role of spirituality in the transition through midlife. Using narrative research methodology, in-depth tape-recorded interviews were conducted with ten self-selected adults between the ages of 47 and 63 who felt spirituality had played an important role in their transition through mid-life. Of the seven women and three men who participated, nine were Caucasian and one was Asian. Four participants were not adherents of a recognized religious faith, while the other six reported an affiliation with Eastern, middle-Eastern, or Western faiths. Of this well-educated, middle to upper income sample, four participants were married with children, three were single, and three were divorced. Tape-recorded interview transcriptions were used to develop first person narrative accounts of the role spirituality in the transition through midlife. These accounts were validated by the participants. Further analysis of the validated narratives yielded ten common elements. The first four elements indicated a significant role for spirituality in the developmental process of midlife, by helping the participants to cope with losses and challenges, revise values and identity, and find spiritual meaning. The next six elements, which suggest an expanded definition of spirituality, described the ongoing importance of spirituality in the lives of the participants. The common elements and findings are discussed in light of current theory and research on midlife, as well as psychological perspectives on spirituality.

碩士
國立中興大學
台灣文學與跨國文化研究所
103
This research looks at Belinda Zhang’s Plague , a literary novel that focuses on the midlife crisis of Chinese Nationals residing in America. The first phase of the research discusses the practical implications of this cross cultural migration in America, which includes the reasons behind and impacts of the formation of the Ethnic Chinese community as a active force to balance New York’s societal pressure, and the reasons these new Chinese migrants were shunned by the society. A further distinction is analyzed by juxtaposing these new resilient and optimistic immigrants to traditional passive attitudes held by the Chinese. The second phase zooms in on the individual characters’ own crisis, which acts as a reminder to the reader to be positive when dealing with difficult issues in life. The final phase concludes the research by discussing and further analyzing Zhang’s writing techniques, use of symbolism, character development and plot design, as a means to seek the real meaning of her work.

Research Doctorate - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Aim: To find sources of meaning in life and people’s beliefs about the meaning of life in adult academic staff in midlife, with or without depression, to inform current mental health clinical practice and research. Background: Failure to address the problem of meaninglessness or the existential crises is associated with psychopathologies such as depression, anxiety, addiction, aggression, hopelessness, apathy, lower levels of well-being, physical illness and suicide. This is a real and complex clinical issue that needs to be addressed. Methodology: Qualitative research using auto-photography and photo elicitation in a sample of Australian academic staff in midlife. Recruitment was enabled via the university webpage and resulted in 11 participants (n=11). Ethics approval was gained through the universities Human Research Ethics Committee. Trustworthiness was increased by using multiple data collection methods – auto-photography (visual), photo elicitation (verbal) and essay writing (written), allowing for the capturing of deeper, richer and multi-dimensional data. Interpretive thematic analysis was used to obtain optimal results from the visual, verbal and written data. Findings: Six participants had no depression and were mentally healthy and five had clinical depression. The most talked about sources of meaning in life were: having a connection to people and animals, looking after the self, having hobbies, working and having a career, and the least talked about were religion, spirituality and atheism. Relationships with family were cited as the most important source of meaning in life. Beliefs about the meaning of life included that: life is a journey of self-development, or is about religious or non-religious beliefs, or is about living well, or is about family, love and relationships, or about making a difference. The non-depressed mentally healthy group provided many more items in every category in all themes compared to the self-reported depression group (for example: 100 photographs submitted compared to 12; and 156 categories identified compared to 48). Clinical implications: This research suggests that mental health clinicians may benefit consumers by helping them explore the fundamental human questions of: Who am I? Why am I here? What is my purpose in life? Where can I find meaning in life?; and, What is the meaning of my life? Without answers to these questions, consumers with depression may struggle to see the point of living, and if left untreated, may suffer from existential crises, severe depression and eventually suicide. Working on the attainment of meaning in life may be a goal of the therapeutic process and may result in better mental health outcomes for the clinical population. Mental health clinicians may need guidance and support to implement these strategies from more experienced clinicians and/or academic staff.